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Monthly Archives: September 2016

Homelessness – what images does this word bring up in your mind? What do you associate with this term? For many people there will be a range of emotions and thoughts from `no one deserves to be living on the street on this day and age` to `a lot of people choose to live on the street and so there is no helping them`. These were responses at my workplace when they heard about my work with the homeless and no doubt are very common. Please leave your views in the comment section below.

In October (Friday 28th) MPs have an opportunity to change the situation for thousands of homeless people across the country. Bob Blackman (Con MP) has put forward a private members bill or the Homelessness Reduction Bill This has support from MPs from all parties and backing from the Communities and Local goverment department and also Crisis who have launched the #Nooneturnedaway campaign. Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the last major piece of homelessness legislation(there was one in 1996 but it didnt have as big an impact as the 1977 Housing (Homeless Person) bill) which was also a private members bill. Indeed the Commons CLG report claimed this `Bill is the best opportunity since 1977 to reduce homelessness`.

The Homelessness Reduction Bill has been written to make help more accessible and to have fewer people turned away. Bob Blackman MP says `At the moment there is no early intervention and too many people are turned away. For many local authorities it is just a tick box activity and this bill will ensure that there is a statutory requirement to give help and advice BEFORE people are homeless. Hopefully this will prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.` This bill will change the definition of those threatened with homelessness from 28 days to 56 days which will give councils more time to work with people to find the best solution and amongst other things will ensure that everyone has a personal housing plan in place which will make things so much clearer for those applying. It will also require councils to issue more Section 184 notices which explains the authorities decisions in writing as to why they were accepted/rejected and what their next steps will be. This will remove some of the anxiety and muddiness amongst the current procedure. More details can be found here

This bill is due for its second reading and is so important in the world of homelessness. Unfortunately unless 100 MPs are present then it may not make it past it 2nd reading. So far 53 MPs have agreed to attend and so I am asking that you write to your local MP(a template from Crisis is here) and ask them if they will be attending. Please let me know at lovingtheleastthelastandthelost@hotmail.co.uk their answer even if it is a No. I am writing to my local MP and will publish his response on this blog.